Control joint for building construction



July 6, 1965 'r. R. BARR CONTROL JOINT FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2, 1963 zvzz/efiiozzfl ,A ,1. [wfifiarv JOHNKENNETZ WISE ATTORNEY July 6, 1965 T. R. BARR 3,192,577

CONTROL JOINT FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet2 jmjwwfiaw BYJOHN KENNETH WISE ATTORNEY 3,192,577 COQL JGINT FORBUILDING CGNS'I'RUCTIQN Thomas Reginald Barr, Hinsdale, 111., assignorto United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, BL, a corporation of ElimoisFiled May 2, 1963, Ser. No. 277,553 Claims. (Cl. -?2) This inventionrelates to control joints for exterior and interior buildingconstruction. Said control joints are often referred to in the buildingconstruction art as expansion joints.

Moisture, thermal, and/ or constitutional changes in building materials,as well as settling or deflecting of supporting structures, may causecracks to appear in materials such as plaster and the like used toconstruct interior Walls or ceilings, and, in materials such as Portlandcement stucco used to construct exterior walls. Periodic breaks orspaces may be provided in the walls or ceilings, particularly when largesurface areas are involved, to allow segments thereof to expand orcontract and thereby minimize the tendency for cracks to appear therein,i.e., the spaces provide means for expending forces that tend to causecracks. It is conventional practice to place control joints at thespaces which coact with ends of said segments when the ends move towardor away from each other, and, it is a general object of this inventionto provide an improved control joint that coacts with ends of wall orceiling segments.

It is another object of this invention to provide a control joint withmeans to minimize the tendency of ends of wall or ceiling segments toseparate from portions thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a control joint whichfreely coacts with said ends.

It is another object to provide means to facilitate application ofconstruction material such as plaster, Portland cement and the likeagainst portions of a control joint whereby a uniform depth of thematerial may be effected resulting in a uniform wall or ceilingthickness.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide means preventingconstruction materials from rendering a control joint inoperative duringapplication of the materials against said control joint, said means alsoenabling an attractive appearance at a position in a wall or ceilingwhereat said control joint is operatively placed.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the description,accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fragmentary interior wall showing acontrol joint and other wall components.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a symmetrical joint otherwisesimilar to that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the control joint in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate, perspectively, other embodiments of thecontrol joint.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, panel supporting wood studs 2i) and 2.2 arespaced apart. Lath panels 24, such as gypsum lath having a papercovering surrounding a plaster core 26, are secured by nails 27 (othertype fasteners may be used) to the studs leaving a space betweenopposing ends of the panels sufficient to allow for an anticipatedexpansion or contraction of wall segments. Control joint 28 is thensecured to stud 22 by driving nails 27 through base portion or flange30, then through edges of the panels underlying flange 30, and into thestud. Cementitious material 32, gypsum plaster as an example, is appliedover the panels and against the control joint, and surface material 34,gauged lime as an example,

United States Patent 0 is applied over the cementitious material.Alternately, stud 22 can be spaced further from stud 20 than isillustrated, and, flange 3% can be secured to panels 24 by staples orotherwise without securing the control joint to stud 22. As illustratedin FIG. 2, another angle member having a flange 30a and upright 58a andanother linking member 68a may be provided and connected to key memberSit, thereby efiecting a symmetrical control joint.

It is to be understood that the control joint is not limited for usewith materials in the wall construction thus described. Other materialsmay be used, and as examples, metal studs may be used in place of woodstuds, an open metal material such as expanded metal lath may besubstituted for the lath panels, and screw fasteners or staples may beused in place of the nails. Moreover, for ceilings, a grid of channels,wire hung from an overlying floor or ceiling, may be used to supportexpanded metal lath, and, gypsum plaster with a guaged lime coat thereoncan be applied to the metal lath. For exterior use, concrete blocks maybe spaced apart and the control joints placed at spaces thus provided.Portland cement stucco may be applied to the blocks and against thecontrol joints.

Control joint 28, best seen in FIG. 3, comprises control member 36adapted for placement in a space between ends of opposing wall segmentsand adapted for movement of control elements 38 and 46} toward or awayfrom each other in response to movement of said ends toward or away fromeach other. Control member 36 can be of any trough shaped configuration,examples in cross section of which include a V-shaped configuration asin FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, one that is U-shaped (FIG. 5), and one that isW-shaped (FIG. 6).

Cover members 42 and 44, adapted to cover edges of opposing ends of wallor ceiling segments, extend outwardly and generally in oppositedirections from control elements 38 and 40, respectively. Tape 46,masking tape having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to one surfaceas an example, is adapted for adherence to said cover members and spansover the control member thereby preventing entrance of the cementitiousmaterial and the surface material between the control elements duringapplication of the materials to the control joint which would tend torender the control member inoperative. The tapes are stripped from thecover members after the application thereby unveiling a clean and neatappearing wall whereat control joints are installed.

Of importance are a pair of key members 43 and 50 associated with covermembers 42 and 44, respectively. Said key members may be disposedslightly inwardly toward the cover members thereby disposing screedportions 52 and 54 outwardly from the cover members thus preventingundercuts between the screed portions and the cover members tending tohinder the placement and stripping of a tape 4-6. However, the keymembers should be substantially perpendicularly disposed to the covermembers to thereby allow the key members to extend into the cementitiousmaterial preventing separation of the material from control element itand upright portion 58 as wall or ceiling segments contract.

The key members are provided with screed portions 52 and 54 which extendabove surfaces of the cover members 42 and 44, respectively, theremaining portions of the key members extending below said surfaces.Said screed portions provide gauges or grounds enabling an artisan toapply a uniform depth of Cementitious and surface materials over panels39. The artisan will firstly trowel Cementitious material 32 over thepanels, and will then trowel a thin layer of surface material 34 thereonby moving the trowel against the screed portions.

To secure the control joint through a panel to wood stud 22, oralternately to a panel edge solely, the control m r (I) joint isprovided with angle member 56. Said angle member includes uprightportion or flange 53 disposed substantially perpendicularly to baseportion or flange 39. When stud attachment is desirable, the controljoint is secured to wood stud 22 by driving nails 27 through fiange 30,through edges of panels 24 underlying the flange, and into the stud.Nail holes 66 facilitate entrance of the nails through flange 38, and,apertures 62 together with scoops 64 allow the cementitious material toenter through the flange and adhere to the underlying edges of the lathpanels. The scoop elements 6 3 face the upright portion 58 of the anglemember and when embedded in the set cementitious material 32act toprevent separation of the material 32 from the joint during normalcontraction and expansion of the wall and ceiling surfaces. Asillustrated in FlG. 2, the scoops 64 are preferably locatedsubstantially opposite the key members 4-8 so that they cooperate tomaintain the control element in intimate contact with the material 32.Stiffeners 66 may comprise ridge elements extending across the junctionof the upright portion 58 and the base portion 38 to effect rigidity ofangle member 56 especially important during movement of a trowelingagainst the screed portions during application of the materials 32 and34 which thereby aids in effecting a uniform depth of the materials overthe panels. Alternately, the angle member may be provided with anexpanded metal flange 3i? providing openings similar in function toapertures 62 and scoops 64 (not illustrated).

Upright portion 58 is connected to key member 48 by means of linkingmember 68, excepting in the case of the embodiment in FIG. 4. Saidupright portion is disposed angularly from said linking member and maymake an acute angle therewith (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3), or may form a rightangle therewith (FIGS. 5 and 6). Referring particularly to FIG. 2, saidlinking members extend inwardly from terminus 7b of key member 48 towardcontrol element 38 thereby allowing cementitious material 32 to extendinwardly toward upright portion 58, past terminus 70, and upwardly tothe linking member thereby prevent ing separation of the material fromthe upright portion as the wall segments contract. Similarly,cementitious material 32 extends inwardly toward control element 49,past terminus 72 of key member 50, and upwardly to the cover member 44thereby preventing separation of the material from control element 40 asthe wall segments contract.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a control joint that may be madefrom plastics or other extrudable material. Upright portion 58 isillustrated as connected substantially at the juncture of controlelement 38 with cover member 42 thereby obviating the need for a linkingmember. Fillet portion 74 provides rigidity to the control jointsimilarly to the rigidity imparted by stiffeners 66' in otherembodiments.

The size of the control joints thus described will depend on the useintended. For the use illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, lath panels 24 canbe about in thickness, cementitious material 32 can be about and surfacematerial 34 can be about A The height of control joint 28 measured frombase portion 30 to screed portion 52 and measured parallel to theupright portion can be a about /2" since said height is the ground sizeof the materials applied over the panels. Other heights are possible andinclude 7s, and 1", and for these sizes, a width, measured from screedportion to screed portion, can be about As". Moreover, the controljoints can be made from any suitable resilient material such as plasticsand sheet metal as examples. Alloyed zinc in about a thickness of .014"is suitable for the aforementioned di mensions. 7

While several embodiments of this invention are described andillustrated, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is notto be limited thereto, since modifications may be made, and it iscontemplated therefore by the appended claims to cover any suchmodifications 4 as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

I claim:

1. An integral elongated control joint which comprises:

(1) A centrally disposed portion of generally trough shape defined by apair of control elements extending divergently from a common apex,

(2) A pair of cover members intermediately located along said controlelements, each diverging outwardly from its control element,

(3) Each of said control elements terminating in a screed portionconnected to the outer edge of said cover member and located furtherfrom the apex of said trough than are said cover members, A

(4) A pair of key members whose first termini are said screed portionsand whose other termini lie outwardly of said control elements andintermediate the termini thereof,

(5) At least one linking member connecting a key member to an anglemember, the latter consisting of an upright portion located inwardly ofsaid key member and attached to said linking member and a base portionattached to the other margin of said upright portion and formingtherewith an angle of approximately 90".

2. An integral elongated control joint having a portion with a crosssection generally approximating at least the letters VC in which theletters are joined at their tops,

which comprises:

(1) A pair of control elements extending divergently from an apex toform the V,

(2) A pair of cover members located intermediate said control elementseach diverging outwardly from its control element from an upper portionof each leg of the V, i

(3) A C shaped plaster receiving recess defined by a flange, a legmember upturned therefrom and a link member at an acute angle to saidleg, said recess being connected to the control element by,

(a) A key member substantially parallel to said leg and extending fromsaid link to the end of the V and (b) A screed portion at the end of thecontrol element at its junction with the key member.

3. An integral elongated control joint which comprises:

(1) A cenerally disposed portion of generally trough shape defined by apair of control elements extending divergently from a common apex,

(2) A pair of cover members intermediately located along said controlelements, each diverging outwardly from its control element,

(3) Each of said control elements terminating in a screed portionconnected to the outer edge of said cover member and located furtherfrom the apex of said trough than are said cover members,

(4) A pair of key members whose first termini are said screed portionsand whose other termini lie outwardly of said control elements andintermediate the termini thereof,

' (5) A pair of linking members each connecting a key member to arespective angle member, the latter consisting of an upright portionlocated inwardly of said key member and attached to said linking memberand a base portion attached to the other margin of said upright portionand forming therewith an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

4. An integral elongated control joint formed from resilient materialwhich comprises:

(1) A centrally disposed portion of generally trough shape defined by apair of control elements extending divergently from a common apex,

(2) A pair of key members extending from the control elements generallytoward said apex and whose termini lie outwardly of said controlelements and intermediate the termini thereof,

(3) At least one angle member consisting of an upright portion locatedinwardly of said key member and having a first margin adjacent theretoand a base portion attached to the other margin of said upright portionand forming therewith an angle of approximately 90, and,

(4) At least one linking member connecting said first margin of saidupright portion to the terminus of a key member forming acute angleswith said first margin and said key member whereby to define a keyingrecess for cementitious material.

5. An integral elongated control joint formed from re silient materialhaving a portion With a cross section generally approximating at leastthe letters VC in which the letters are joined at their tops, whichcomprises:

(1) A pair of control elements extending divergently from an apex toform the V,

(2) A C shaped plaster receiving recess defined by a flange, a legmember upturned therefrom and a link member at an acute angle to saidleg, and

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/34 Brown 94-18X 2/36 Fegles 50434 X 3/39 Lavering 50-346 5/44 Methven 94-18 FOREIGNPATENTS 1/59 Canada. 1/ 5 9 Canada. 4/22 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

1. AN INTEGRAL ELONGATED CONTROL JOINT WHICH COMPRISES: (1) A CENTRALLYDISPOSED PORTION OF GENERALY TROUGH SHAPE DEFINED BY A PAIR OF CONTROLELEMENTS EXTENDING DIVERGENTLY FROM A COMMON APEX (2) A PAIR OF COVERELEMENTS, EACH DIVERGING OUTALONG SAID CONTROL ELEMENTS, EACH DIVERGINGOUTWARDLY FROM ITS CONTROL ELEMENT, (3) EACH OF SAID CONTROL ELEMENTSTERMINATING IN A SCREED PORTION CONNECTED TO THE OUTER EDGE OF SAIDCOVER MEMBER AND LOCATED FURTHER FROM THE APEX OF SAID TROUGH THAN ARESAID COVER MEMBERS, (4) A PAIR OF KEY MEMBERS WHOSE OTHER TERMINI LIEOUTWARDSCREED PORTIONS AND WHOSE OTHER TERMINI LIE OUTWARDLY OF SAIDCONTROL ELEMENTS AND INTERMEDIATE THE TERMINI THEREOF, (5) AT LEAST ONELINKING MEMBER CONNECTING A KEY MEMBER TO AN ANGLE MEMBER, THE LATTERCONSISTING OF AN UPRIGHT PORTION LOCATED INWARDLY OF SAID KEY MEMBER ANDATTACHED TO SAID LINKING MEMBER AND A BASE PORTION ATTACHED TO THE OTHERMARGIN OF SAID UPRIGHT PORTION AND FORMING THEREWITH AN ANGLE OFAPPROXIMATELY 90*.